The hottest Venture Capital Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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What do Negative Interest Rates mean for Innovation?

Turnaround • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jun 20
💰 Finance Innovation Economy Bonds Venture Capital Cryptocurrency
  1. Negative interest rates can impede the process of creative destruction by keeping unproductive "zombie companies" alive, hindering market opportunities for new and innovative startups.
  2. Negative interest rates may lead to more funding flowing into startups and venture capital as investors seek higher returns in riskier assets, potentially boosting the startup ecosystem.
  3. Negative interest rates could boost the crypto economy by driving more interest in cryptocurrency as a viable alternative to traditional banking, particularly if mainstream banking options become unattractive due to negative rates.

Garuda Ventures' New $31M Fund

Tippets by Taps • 14 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investing Startups Entrepreneurship Funding
  1. Garuda Ventures raised a $31 million fund to support exceptional founders at an early stage.
  2. They focus on four core themes in their investments: Intelligent Applications, Commerce Infrastructure, The New Perimeter, and Climate 2.0.
  3. Garuda Ventures emphasizes the importance of empathy, candor, and operating excellence when supporting founders.

5/23/22: 2022 Q1 Chinese VC/PE Update & Overseas Investments Summary

Tech Buzz China Insider • 19 implied HN points • 24 May 22
💼 Business Venture Capital Investments Market Analysis Government Policies Financial trends
  1. The 2022 Q1 Chinese VC/PE Update shows a significant decrease in early-stage investments in China, while the US saw increases in most aspects except for the number of exits.
  2. The majority of Chinese investment dollars went to the US, followed by India and Singapore, with a noticeable decline in investments in Latin America, Australia, and Africa.
  3. Over half of the number of investments from China in overseas markets were in early-stage (seed B) investments, with the top sectors being healthcare, blockchain, and fintech.

What is a "Moat" and why does it matter?

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
💼 Business Startups Investing Venture Capital Economics Strategy
  1. In the startup world, having 'moats' or durable competitive advantages is crucial for long-term success.
  2. Moats are defined by being proven, perpetuating, and permanent, providing economic leverage and sustainable margin growth.
  3. Investing in building strong moats early on can help businesses sustain value over time and outperform competitors in the long run.

Announcing Equal Ventures’ First Operator-In-Residence Cohort

Equal Ventures • 39 implied HN points • 03 Mar 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Leadership Development Startup Ecosystem Diversity Community Building
  1. Equal Ventures started the Operators-in-Residence program for high potential startup operators
  2. The program aims to diversify backgrounds and provide a platform for shared learning and personal growth
  3. Operators discuss research, strategy, and operational methodologies to accelerate leadership development
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Game Over? (Summer 2022)

The Valley of Dunning-Kruger • 1 implied HN point • 27 Jan 25
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Market Trends Financial Analysis Fund management
  1. The tech market has experienced a crash that affected many investment firms, especially Tiger Global, which focused on rapid investments without preparing for downturns. This shows the importance of balancing speed with caution in investing.
  2. Emerging 'Venture Platforms' will likely dominate the market by leveraging their scale and resources, creating stronger advantages over smaller firms. It’s about using size to deliver better services to startups.
  3. Venture capital is moving into an 'asset accumulation' phase, where larger firms will capture more market share, which can lower overall returns for investors. This shift poses challenges and opportunities for smaller funds and their strategies.

Key Ideas: Which Hold Up the Test of Time?

European Straits • 8 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
💼 Business Technology Entrepreneurship Investment Globalization Venture Capital
  1. The concept of the Age of the Multitude requires revision due to changing dynamics influenced by technology and artificial intelligence.
  2. The Age of Computing and Networks still holds relevance but is challenged by new advancements like AI and large language models, showing we may still be navigating this era.
  3. Capitalism and the Corporate Contract exhibit an evolution in power dynamics within corporations, highlighting shifts in priorities for customers, employees, and shareholders.

Anduril - Forging the $8Bn Defense Tech Unicorn

Termsheet by Attack Capital • 13 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
💼 Business Technology Defense Startups Venture Capital Innovation
  1. Anduril is a defense company focusing on autonomous systems for war monitoring with AI and computer vision.
  2. Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR, started Anduril after being fired from Facebook for donating to a pro-trump organization.
  3. Anduril's product suite includes Lattice OS, Force Protection, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Underwater Vehicles.

Bill Ackman's DEI Rants Spotlight a Need for Gender Parity in VC Portfolios

James Ledbetter's FIN • 10 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Diversity Startups Investment Venture Capital
  1. Bill Ackman's criticism of DEI initiatives highlights a need for gender parity in VC portfolios.
  2. There is a concern about the backlash against diversity efforts and the impact on financial and cultural equity.
  3. Increasing investment in women-founded and co-founded startups is crucial for achieving gender parity in VC portfolios.

2022 - A Reflection on 3 Years of Equal

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 13 Jan 22
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Reflection Entrepreneurship
  1. Equal Ventures had a significant year in 2021 with early investments reaching success, showcasing potential for more growth ahead.
  2. The journey of investment in ThreeFlow highlights the challenges and risks faced in venture capital, and the importance of strong support networks.
  3. Reflecting on the past three years, Equal Ventures emphasizes gratitude for supporters and aims to continue being a dedicated venture firm with a strong team and innovative approach.

Finding the Right Burn Rate for Pre-Seed Companies - The Relationship Between Burn Rate and Graduation Rate for Our First 150 Pre-Seed Investments

Venture Reflections • 12 implied HN points • 17 May 23
💼 Business Investments Startups Data Analysis Venture Capital Financial trends
  1. Successful pre-seed companies spend more money per month than unsuccessful ones.
  2. The difference in average monthly burn rates between successful and unsuccessful companies is small since 2016.
  3. Spending more money is likely an effect, not the cause, of success in finding product-market fit.

Who (And Where) Are Today’s Innovators?

European Straits • 11 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
💼 Business Innovation Entrepreneurship Policy Venture Capital Startups
  1. The decline in young adults may impact innovation, but different factors contribute to innovative mindsets.
  2. Understanding age, cohort, and historical period effects is crucial in studying innovation and age-related phenomena.
  3. Innovation has evolved over time from solo inventors to corporate labs to young tech entrepreneurs, impacting the age of predominant innovators.

How things work at Kima Ventures

Venture Prose • 79 implied HN points • 01 Feb 19
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Workflow Portfolio Management Communication
  1. Kima Ventures tracks dealflow opportunities using in-house tools, not CRM platforms, and follows a weekly workflow for managing new opportunities.
  2. They manage meetings and communication by logging them on Google Calendar and Airtable, aiming to keep to-do lists short and manageable.
  3. The team has efficient processes for decision-making, investing, and portfolio management, utilizing various tools and software for tracking deals and progress.

Turnaround #6: A new podcast for you & more

Turnaround • 59 implied HN points • 23 Sep 19
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Gaming Industry Market Analysis Entrepreneurship
  1. The Indian mobile gaming sector is seeing significant growth on the new internet highway, attracting serious venture capital.
  2. The gaming industry in India is evolving, with skill-based games like Fantasy Sports and Rummy gaining traction despite some legal challenges.
  3. The future of the gaming sector in India holds potential for growth, with predictions of increasing interest from Chinese companies and opportunities in ancillary areas like creator tools and blockchain-based gaming.

Minimum Viable Raise

Aashay's Newsletter • 4 HN points • 22 Aug 23
💼 Business Startups Investment Venture Capital Funding Entrepreneurship
  1. Startups should consider raising a little more capital upfront to have adequate resources for product development and market introduction.
  2. As software markets evolve, buyer expectations increase, and ventures now penetrate traditional sectors with longer sales cycles.
  3. Founders may need to adjust their mindset and be open to raising more capital initially to navigate the changing landscape of startup financing.

What is a Tech Company?

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 13 Sep 21
🕹 Technology Venture Capital Software Tech Companies
  1. Companies are starting to leverage their technological advantages instead of just selling them, expanding investment opportunities beyond traditional software companies.
  2. Some disruptors in industries like insurance are struggling with unsustainable financials, emphasizing the need for a solid business model and competitive advantage.
  3. Investors need to focus on digital leverage and creating a sustainable competitive advantage when evaluating potential tech companies to invest in.

Concentration > Diversification

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 30 Aug 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Investing Startups Relationships
  1. In the venture ecosystem, focusing on concentration over diversification can be crucial for survival and success.
  2. Venture firms with disciplined fund sizes and concentrated bets have a track record of achieving massive returns.
  3. Building strong relationships with founders and providing hands-on support can set a venture firm apart in a competitive market.

Notes on Progress: The world that has never been

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Research Startups Innovation Venture Capital Non-profit
  1. Ben Reinhardt announces his new ARPA-style lab, Speculative Technologies, to create the world that has never been.
  2. Academia, NASA, and startups each have limitations in fostering novel technologies and scaling them for impact.
  3. Building a nonprofit research organization like DARPA could support groundbreaking technologies with a focus on societal impact and scale.

A Deep Dive on AI Inference Startups

East Wind • 3 HN points • 10 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Startups Venture Capital Software Development Market Trends
  1. AI inference startups help companies use AI without needing a strong technical team. They make it easier to access and manage AI models through simple APIs.
  2. The competition in the AI inference space is tough, with many companies offering similar prices and performance. This makes it challenging for any single startup to stand out.
  3. Investors need to believe that the market for AI inference will grow significantly, and these startups will need to expand their product offerings or be attractive acquisition targets for larger companies.

The Venture Activity Index

Who is Nnamdi • 10 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Market Analysis Economic Trends Investment Analysis
  1. The Venture Activity Index measures the state of the venture business cycle using the Venture Activity Index (VAI).
  2. Funding in the venture market is fluctuating around a linear trend with a consistent ~5% growth per quarter on average.
  3. Correlations across different stages of venture investment have increased since 2020, with later stages experiencing more volatility than seed and Series A stages.

Venture Backed Startups in Israel and India: The US Connection

Golden Pineapple • 7 HN points • 24 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Tech Innovation Market Size Investors
  1. More than 30% of venture-backed Israeli and Indian startups establish headquarters in the US for various benefits like access to resources and investor preference.
  2. The United States, particularly Silicon Valley, is a top choice for startups due to tech innovation, a thriving ecosystem, market size, ease of incorporation, and investor preferences.
  3. Indian and Israeli startups face unique challenges in their home countries, making the US a natural choice for expansion and growth.

Hiring VC MBA Interns with experience in Insurance, Supply Chain / Logistics & Climate / Energy

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Internships Recruiting Insurance Supply Chain
  1. The company is hiring MBA interns with experience in Insurance, Supply Chain/Logistics, and Climate/Energy
  2. Interns will research industry themes and investment opportunities remotely for 10 weeks in the summer, with a stipend included
  3. Ideal candidates should have experience in these sectors, be intellectually curious, professional, self-directed, and friendly

Announcing the Emerging Manager Circle

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 22 Feb 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Community Networking Entrepreneurship
  1. Starting a new venture fund can be both exciting and terrifying, with challenges like setting up back office procedures and managing communications.
  2. Connecting with a community of peers facing similar challenges can provide valuable support, mentorship, and resources.
  3. The Emerging Manager Circle initiative aims to democratize access to venture capital and support emerging GPs in starting their own firms.

Evolution of Investors in the New Digital Age

Equal Ventures • 1 HN point • 05 Mar 24
💰 Finance Investment Venture Capital Market Analysis Asset Classes
  1. Investors in the new digital age need a deeper understanding of industry dynamics and business models beyond just technology.
  2. The evolving landscape requires investors to focus on financial efficiency and long-term profitability rather than just growth metrics.
  3. Successful venture investors must prioritize core investment skills like financial acumen to drive long-term returns.

Hiring your first finance leader; How to map your funnel to improve your prospect experience; Breaking down common term sheet terms

Femstreet • 9 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
💼 Business Finance Leadership Marketing Startups Venture Capital
  1. Hiring your first finance leader involves picking the right profile for the evolving role.
  2. Mapping your marketing funnel is crucial for improving prospect experience and fixing leaks.
  3. Understanding common term sheet terms is essential for new founders and those starting in VC.

Finding “Founder <> Investor Fit”

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Investor Relations Startups Entrepreneurship Company dynamics
  1. Investor-founder fit is crucial in venture dynamics. This involves understanding if you need a cheerleader or a trainer investor.
  2. Investors can be categorized as cheerleaders or trainers - those who offer support and those who push for improvement.
  3. Knowing the type of investor you want, whether hands-on or hands-off, is important for aligning expectations and achieving success in your startup.